Rescued Antarctic passengers continue journey home

Published: January 3, 2014 6:25PM

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- An Australian icebreaker carrying 52 passengers who were retrieved from an icebound ship in the Antarctic has resumed its journey home after it was halted for a second potential rescue operation.

The icebreaker Aurora Australis had been traveling through pack ice toward open water after a Chinese helicopter on Thursday plucked the passengers from their stranded Russian research ship and carried them to the Aurora.

But Australian Maritime Safety Authority told the Aurora on Friday afternoon to stay in the area because the Chinese icebreaker that had provided the helicopter might not be able to get through the ice and may need help.

AMSA said the Aurora had been allowed on Saturday to continue its journey to Australia despite the Chinese ship remaining stuck in ice.